Forest Hill Park - Richmond VA

What could be much better than spending a lazy summer Sunday afternoon in Richmond’s Forest Hill Park? Richmonders have done it for decades, but for the past eight years, “Sunday in the Park with Friends” has taken on a special new meaning.

In the spirit of Forest Hill Park’s former days as an early 20th century amusement park, there will be plenty of old-fashioned fun and games for kids, as well as live music, and artisan vendors. On June 30th, the park will explode with balloons, bubbles, bands and so much more! All activities are free.

A “Green Alley” will feature displays and activities with an environmental or conservation theme by local non-profit groups. You’ll also enjoy browsing the booths of local artist and crafts people. Richmond Police and Fire departments will be on hand as will the Bruiser Wrestling Federation and the #99 David Newel Arena Racing USA car. .

Bands include I.C.B., The Bon Airs, Haze and The Dhocmatics. Guests can enjoy tours of the historic Stone House, along with displays about the park’s history, new research on Richmond’s oldest section of canal on the south banks of the James (the canal George Washington cruised!) and author Kitty Snow will be here with presentations from her new book. Bring a pole for catch and release fishing on the lake.

We invite families to bring a picnic and enjoy the park. Treats and ice-cold bottled water will be provided FREE. Richmond’s famous “foodie” trucks will also be on hand for you to purchase other edible goodies. Your canine family members will enjoy their own hospitality tent. (The city requires a leash on dogs at all times in the park). All activities are under tents and offered rain or shine.

For more information contact Lee Shewmake at 230-7684 or leeshewmake@yahoo.com.

Forest Hill Park Monitor Training

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BECOME PART OF THIS EXCITING CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT

NOTE: Please dress for the weather, as this training will be outdoors, and should last approximately one hour. If the weather is questionable, check your email on Saturday morning, there will be an updated message by 9am. If you do not have access to email on 2/23 you may call Christina Woodson at 804 239 4961 after 9am.

We look forward seeing you there, and to a great season of bluebird monitoring! If you would like to participate in this project, but will be unable to attend the training, or would like further information, contact Christina.

A total of 8 boxes were erected at various sites around the park in November, 2012.

Bluebird Box along Path

Bluebirds could start arriving as early as March and we need to be ready. If you could help with monitoring the boxes throughout the summer, please contact Robin Ruth. We will be getting together soon so we can all walk the trail and discuss a plan for monitoring the boxes.

What could be much better than spending a lazy spring Sunday afternoon in Richmond’s Forest Hill Park? Richmonders have done it for decades, but for the past seven years, “Sunday in the Park with Friends” has taken on a special new meaning.

This fun family event, sponsored by the Friends of Forest Hill Park, will be held on Sunday, April 29, from noon until 5 p.m. Last year, the event was “stormed-out” by Hurricane Irene, but is back this year bigger and better than ever.

In the spirit of Forest Hill Park’s former days as an early 20th century amusement park, there will be plenty of old-fashioned fun and games for kids, as well live music, and artisan vendors. On April 29, the park will explode with balloons, bubbles, bands, and bikes. All activities are free.

“Green Alley” will feature displays and activities with an environmental or conservation theme by local non-profit groups. You’ll also enjoy browsing the booths of local crafts people. Richmond Police, Fire, and Sheriff’s departments will also be on hand.

The kids will enjoy an inflated Moon Bounce, clowns, face painting, carnival games like ring toss and bean bag toss, water balloons, make-and-take crafts, Jonathan the Juggler, puppets and other story telling and other activities.

Bands include I.C.B., Beer Ticks and Johnny Change. RVA Hoop Lovers will be present with lots of hoola hoops. Guests can enjoy tours of the historic Stone House, along with displays about the park’s history. Bring a pole for catch and release fishing on the lake.
For the second time, Richmond Police Officer Stacy Rogers is holding a bike rodeo for kids to teach bicycling safety and street skills. Bike repairs and freebies also offered.

We invite families to bring a picnic and enjoy the park. Treats and ice-cold bottled water will be provided FREE. Food vendors will also be on hand for you to purchase other edible goodies. The city requests that four-legged family members at the picnic remain on a leash at all times!

For more information or to volunteer to help with activities during the event, contact Lee Shewmake at 230-7684 or leeshewmake@yahoo.com.

The March Friends of Forest Hill Park work day will be on Sunday, March 25th, from 1-4 p.m.
We will continue efforts at invasive plant removal and spread mulch in the old Azalea Garden area.
A group of VCU students will be coming to assist. Together we can get a lot done in a short time!

Meet at the Stone House a 1 p.m.
Bring your garden gloves. Also bring a shovel and pruners if you have them.
Long pants and long sleeves are recommended even though it may be warm.
If you are allergic to poison ivy, please let us know that day so we can steer you away from areas with that plant.
We request that you bring your own water to drink.

If you cannot join us this month, we look forward to seeing you at a work day in the future.
If you have questions please e-mail Suzette at slyon10@yahoo.com.

During this annual event we will identify and count species seen in the park and report our results to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Data collected across the United States and Canada is of value to scientists who study changes in bird populations over time. The count in our park usually lasts 2 – 3 hours and we typically see about 25 – 30 species.

Friday, February 17 at 8 am. Meet in the picnic shelter parking lot. Anyone can participate. For more information, contact Suzette Lyon at slyon10@yahoo.com.

Calling all pampered pooches and hounds from hell! Start designing your pooch’s costume now and get a leg up on the competition! Arrive at the circular drive in front of the Stone House in Forest Hill Park on Sunday, October 30, at 1 p.m. for the second annual “Halloween Howl” sponsored by Friends of Forest Hill Park. There will be plenty of games for you and your canine companion, leading up to the canine costume parade. Prizes will be awarded in the costume parade and the competitions, and there’ll be refreshments for you and your dog. It’s all free.
Even if you don’t have a dog, come out and cheer our neighborhood pups on! For more information or to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Sally Kannemeyer at skannemeyer@comcast.net or Lee Shewmake at leeshewmake@yahoo.com.
Halloween Howl benefits Ring Dog Rescue, the non-profit organization that gets dogs out of the fighting ring and into loving homes. Donations accepted at the event.